By Rutendo Mapfumo
The government has fast-tracked the Child Marriage Act, which prohibits sexual intercourse with anyone under 18 years.
The step is seen as a crucial move towards ending child marriages particularly in the rural communities such as Binga and Hwange, where the practice has been rampant.
A recent investigation by New Ziana revealed that the increasing number of school dropouts among girls—often due to the lack of birth certificates—has been a significant driver of child marriages.
Civil society organisations and other stakeholders have for several years launched various awareness campaigns to combat this issue but with varying degrees of success.
Recently President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed into law the Criminal Law Amendment Protection of Children and Young Persons Act 2024 (Number 1) which effectively criminalises sexual relations with those under 18 years.
Experts envisage that this legislative change which addresses concerns about the previous age of consent, which was set at 16 in the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, would go a long way in addressing and ending early child marriage.
The earlier law defined a young person as anyone below 16, which contradicted the Constitution of Zimbabwe, section 81, which states that a child is anyone under 18. This discrepancy left 16- and 17-year-olds vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
According to the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association, child marriages involve individuals below 18 years and can be either voluntary or involuntary. These marriages, which can occur between an adult and a minor or among minors, disproportionately affect girls. Gender experts have appreciated the law’s amendment, which aims to protect children.
“Numerous factors contribute to child marriages, and this amendment will bring justice to children who have been married off, whether voluntarily or involuntarily,” said Anna Mandizha Ncube, director of Bwalo Matalikilo Trust, a Hwange-based organisation focused on sexual health and reproductive rights for young rural women and girls.
Child marriages disrupt the futures of young girls who should be in school.
“Most rural young girls see their futures compromised by early marriages; many are forced to become mothers and abandon their dreams of becoming professionals,” she added.
Chief Nelukoba commended the government’s efforts to end child marriages in rural communities by 2030.
“As traditional leaders, we are vigilant against perpetrators of child marriages. Village heads and headmen are being sensitised about the amended bill,” he stated.
According to UNICEF, data suggests that over one-third of girls in Zimbabwe experience sexual violence before the age of 18. As Zimbabwe implements the new legislation, UNICEF urges the government to continue investing in the prevention of sexual abuse and to provide support for victims.
Children deserve to grow in a safe environment and it is the collective responsibility of society to break the silence, prevent sexual abuse, and combat all forms of violence against children.
New Ziana
